NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On a chilly evening in the Music City, the University of Hawai'i baseball team mustered one run on two hits at the hands of defending national champions Vanderbilt on Friday. The Commodores (9-2) scored five runs on eight hits in the opener.
 
Hawai'i (7-4) got its hits from the middle of the order as redshirt juniors Adam Fogel and Alex Baeza combined for base knocks. Fogel singled in the second inning to open the inning and Baeza hit his second double of the season to right-center field to open the fifth inning.
 
Vanderbilt scored in three innings, with three runs coming in the second inning. Singular runs by the Commodores in the fifth and seventh kept the Rainbow Warriors at bay.
 
The starter for Vanderbilt, Mason Hickman, struck out 11 in 6.2 innings. The right hander gave up both hits and the run. Relieving Hickman in the middle of sophomore catcher Dallas Duarte's at bat in the seventh inning, Sam Hliboki set down the Rainbow Warriors in order for seven straight outs.
 
Rainbow Warriors' starter, Logan Pouelsen lasted 5.2 innings and struck out four in his outing. The senior was tagged for the loss. Freshman Tai Atkins relieved Pouelsen for 2.1 innings and struck out a pair.

Junior shortstop Kole Kaler had his nine-game hitting streak come to an end, as well as Kaler and sophomore right fielder Scotty Scott's on-base streaks of 10 and eight games, respectively, coming to an end.
 
Hawai'i and Vanderbilt meet for game two of the series in Nashville Saturday at 10 a.m. HT.